Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards
The 16th Annual Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards recognize business owners and entrepreneurs in the Twin Ports and Arrowhead Region who have dared to dream, taken a risk, and made a difference.
Awards recipients were announced
April 22, 2008
Congratualtions to...
Micro-Entrepreneur Award:
Loni's Sewing – Loni Bright, International Falls, MN
Emerging Entrepreneur Award:
Minnesota Twist Drill, Inc. - Scott Allison, Al Lambert, Jon Larson, Terry Bergum, Jim Fena, John Dosen and Paul Janssen, Chisholm, MN
Established Entrepreneur Award:
Precision Testing, Inc. – Connie Pearson, Virginia, MN
Mature Entrepreneur Award:
SCS Aircraft Interiors - Dave Hudyman, Mike Hudyma, Duluth, MN
Innovation Award:
Epicurean Cutting Surfaces, Inc. - Greg Benson, Dave Benson, Tony Ciardelli, Duluth, MN
BIOS:
Micro-Entrepreneur Award
Loni's Sewing, Loni Bright, International Falls, MN
You've heard the saying before: When you love what you do, it doesn't seem like work at all. Loni Bright has to pinch herself at times because it's hard to believe she is able to live in a beautiful part of the country – a place where she wants to raise a family – and control her income at the same time. Her sewing, canvas repair, and boat top business began with notoriety she received from a grand champion project at the county fair. After that, her phone just didn't stop ringing. In addition to private accounts and one with a national park, Loni is involved with the local women's business networking group and has helped mentor other female business owners. She continuously looks for opportunities to use her talents to help out the community, things like keeping the high school sports equipment in good shape.
Emerging Entrepreneur Award
Minnesota Twist Drill, Inc., Scott Allison, Al Lambert, Jon Larson, Terry Bergum, Jim Fena, John Dosen, and Paul Janssen, Chisholm, MN
A manufacturer of drill bits, Minnesota Twist Drill, Inc. (MTD) sells its products as a private label company to other companies, such as Lowe's and Home Depot, who then brand those products under their own names. MTD was purchased in 2003 by a local group of investors, including seven primary owners, all of whom play an important role in the company. With the exception of one, who recently retired, all are active in the day-to-day operation. In the years since they acquired the company, it has grown substantially, currently employing more than 90 people and increasing sales from near $6 million to more than $16 million. In addition to its economic impact, Minnesota Twist Drill contributes to the community by donating to a variety of organizations and efforts.
Established Entrepreneur Award
Precision Testing, Inc., Connie Pearson, Virginia, MN
Who is testing construction materials for the new I-35W bridge? And the new Minnesota Twins stadium? Precision Testing, Inc. (PTI) was the firm awarded the quality control testing for the new bridge under prime contractor Flatiron Constructors. Connie Pearson's company is also performing grading and base testing for the new major league ballpark. With more than 27 years of experience in construction materials testing, including working on-site with highway projects (yes, she was a flag person), Connie founded PTI in 2001. The company has steadily expanded its services from small local jobs to high-profile, federally funded projects. PTI now has three seasonal full-time employees on the Iron Range and eight full-time employees in the Twin Cities area. PTI built its own facility in 2004 and has increased its testing equipment and other assets from $42,000 to $700,000. PTI provides rapid, accurate results to help clients build high-quality, longer-lasting, efficient highways, bridges, and other structures.
Mature Entrepreneur Award
SCS Aircraft Interiors, Dave Hudyma and Mike Hudyma, Duluth , MN
A company with roots in the automotive upholstery business, SCS (formerly known as Brigham Upholstery) has produced many award-winning custom and prototypical interiors for cars over the years. In 1989, the company was purchased by Dave Hudyma. He was joined by his son, Michael, in 1992. Since then, the father/son team has evolved the company into one of the many players in the creation of an aviation industry in the Duluth area. SCS began its journey into the aerospace industry almost 10 years ago when it developed a prototype for Cirrus Design Corporation, then an upstart aircraft manufacturer. Its flexibility in creating prototypes, ability to develop a team of highly skilled workers, and integration of the latest technology, have continued to pave the road for its growth and success. Over the years, the company has expanded its workforce to more than 18 employees, moved into a larger state-of-the-art facility, and invested in the latest upholstery manufacturing technology.
Innovation Award
Epicurean Cutting Surfaces, Inc., Greg Benson, Dave Benson, and Tony Ciardelli, Duluth , MN
The ride from building skate parks to manufacturing and selling cutting surfaces has had twists and turns along the way. Yet Epicurean Cutting Surfaces' sales have increased every year, and the company now sells its products in more than 4,000 stores and online to customers throughout the United States and Canada and in 18 other countries. In 1997, Greg Benson, Dave Benson, and Tony Ciardelli started designing and building municipal skate parks. In part to find a use for excess material used in the skate park construction, they shifted their business focus to manufacturing a new line of professional-grade cutting surfaces for residential and commercial kitchens. Epicurean Cutting Surfaces works with independent and large retailers. Through its Loll Designs division, the company also manufactures outdoor furniture sold directly through Room & Board. Greg, Dave, and Tony now have 31 full-time employees and anticipate adding at least eight more in 2008. The company has 78 independent representatives in North America and plans to continue expanding its international shipping to reach 36 countries by the end of 2008.
David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award
Todd L. Johnson
The David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award went to third-generation entrepreneur Todd Johnson, chairman and CEO of Reuben Johnson & Son. Johnson is the first person in the region to represent industry on the Federal Reserve District's board of directors and is currently chair of the audit committee. He received the award for his commitment to the region's health and vitality.
Entrepreneurial Achievement Award
Alan Klapmeier and Dale Klapmeier
Alan and Dale Klapmeier, owners of Cirrus Design, received the Entrepreneurial Achievement Award for their impact on the regional economy. The brothers came to Duluth in 1994 with the goal of providing the greatest owner value through the innovative design, manufacture, and marketing of top-quality personal aircraft and services. Today, they employ more than 900 people in the Duluth area and are responsible for the creation of the region's private sector aeronautics industry cluster.
Nominees for the 16 th Annual Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards:
Micro-Entrepreneur Award:
3Five Designs, Inc - Martin Sawinski, Duluth, MN
Anytime Fitness – Dr. Jeremy Rebrovich, Luke Popham, Grand Rapids, MN
BG Innovations - Chris Butler and Pam Gipe, Duluth, MN
Battalion Distributing, LLC - Dorothy Battalion, International Falls, MN
Loni's Sewing – Loni Bright, International Falls, MN
Plum Bun Bakery – Elizabeth Serson, Ely, MN
ShipRock Management - Andy Weyrauch and Blake Shippee, Duluth, MN
Whiskeyjack Paddles – Danny Brown, Duluth, MN
Emerging Entrepreneur Award:
Firelight Galleries – Rozella Gams, Jack Lambert, Virginia, MN
Goodfella's Bar and Grill – John Uhan, Eveleth, MN
K&B Drive In – Candy and Lee Reimer, Eveleth, MN
Minnesota Twist Drill, Inc. - Scott Allison, Al Lambert, Jon Larson, Terry Bergum, Jim Fena, John Dosen and Paul Janssen, Chisholm, MN
Pro Print – Scott Cooke and Creston Dorothy, Duluth, MN
TLC Home Healthcare, Inc. – Teresa Linn, Grand Rapids, MN
Zach Lamppa Companies LLC – Zach Lamppa, Tower, MN
Established Entrepreneur Award:
Alan Johnson Photography – Alan and Linda Johnson, Thomson, MN
Charter Films Inc. - Chris Trapp and David Timm, Superior, WI
Hearing Associates, Inc. - Dr. John H. Voss, Duluth MN
Fitger's Brewhouse, Red Star Club, Burrito Union and Old City Hall- Rod Raymond and Tim Nelson, Duluth, MN
Personnel Dynamics, LLC – Donna Vennie, Grand Rapids, MN
Precision Testing, Inc. – Connie Pearson, Virginia, MN
Saturn Systems, Inc. - Keith Erickson, Duluth, MN
Soltreks, Inc. - Doug Sabo, Lorri Hanna, Two Harbors, MN
WestmorelandFlint – John Hyduke, Duluth, MN
Wilderness Family Naturals - Ken and Annette Fischer, Silver Bay, MN
Mature Entrepreneur Award:
The Canal Co. (Gift Shop) - Carol Thompson, Duluth, MN
Let the Whole World Know – Carol Willoughby, Duluth, MN
SJA Architects - Kenneth Johnson, AIA, Duluth, MN
Shannon's Inc - Al Shannon, International Falls, MN
SCS Aircraft Interiors - Dave Hudyman, Mike Hudyma, Duluth, MN
Verta Corporation - Richard Harding, Grand Rapids, MN
Innovation Award:
Epicurean Cutting Surfaces, Inc. - Greg Benson, Dave Benson, Tony Ciardelli, Duluth, MN
Northland Distributing and Manufacturing, Inc. - Keith and Brenda Horne, International Falls, MN
Northshore Manufacturing, Inc. – John Anderson, Two Harbors, MN
